Your 2011 Garden Plans

So the calendar year is coming to its end and the world of gardening is for the most part in its winter slumber. What a better time than now to think about your garden plans for 2011? Having a well defined garden plan doesn’t require extensive effort, nor does it require a lot of time. Planning a good garden just takes a little thought. Let’s take a look at some things you can incorporate into your garden plans in 2011.

This year, perhaps it is time to try a garden structure, like a new deck or a gazebo. Placing a garden structure in your landscape can be a beautifully painful experience without the proper plans. Should you decide that this is the year to build something in your garden area, it is wise to have well developed construction plans for any gardening structures you want to build. Having a detailed plan of all the materials you will need, as well as how the materials fit together, is essential for ensuring that your gazebo, deck or fencing will go up with few problems.

Looking at the garden, perhaps this is your year for a garden fountain or a garden shed, in which case careful planning and landscaping will need to be undertaken. Making sure that all your desired landscaping additions fit properly into your yard is a crucial step in any of your 2011 garden plans, as you may have to adjust the desired size of the garden additions or the size of the garden itself. Should major landscaping need to be done, remember to take advantage of local landscapers to help you get the work done properly.

In terms of styles that you can incorporate in your garden this year, keep in mind that color is always a plus in the garden, as are garden structures like ponds, fountains and statues. Be creative and see which outdoor accessories are best for your space, don’t be afraid to try something new.

Happy New Year!

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Buying the Right Plants Part 1

A Gardening Guide to Finding the Right Plants for Your Garden

The First Step is Having a Plan

Whether you have been involved in gardening for years or are just planting your first garden, you are going to be in the market for some plants. If you choose to do so, you can grow your garden entirely from scratch by starting with nothing but seeds (and dreams). However, you can also start your garden by buying plants from a nursery and transplanting them into the landscaping of your garden. Starting your gardening endeavors in this manner presents several challenges to the gardener. For instance, which perennials should you include, how do you know if the plants are healthy or if they are diseased (even potentially diseased), and how can you tell if you are getting the best deal for your garden plants? Let’s start at the beginning.

Have a plan! Never go into gardening blindly, you will end up with either a disaster or a failure of a garden, neither is good. By having an end goal for how your garden is supposed to look, similar to having a blueprint for a house, you are able to build accordingly. A garden plan will help you determine which plants are best for your climate, as well as how much landscaping space you have available. Obviously, if you feel lost when making your garden plan, either consult a professional either in person or online. Our website’s section on garden plans is also an excellent tool.

Let’s review garden plans. Firstly, you want to choose a theme for your garden, making plant choosing and care easier. Secondly, you want to look at the types of beds you want to include in your garden: bordered beds or island beds? Thirdly, consider the seasons of bloom for your flower beds so ensure you are satisfied with the fullness, or lack thereof, in your garden during the season. Lastly, look at the overall size of your gardening area as well as how much sun your landscaping allows for.

Stay Tuned for Part 2!

Dontel Montelbaun is a regular contributor to www.livetogarden.com and is always pushing others to have the best garden plans so that they can have the best gardening results.

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